Experimental Design for the Life Sciences

At the core of good research lies the careful design of experiments. However, all too often a successful design comes only after a painful trial-and-error process that wastes valuable time and resources.

Now in a new edition, Experimental Design for the Life Sciences teaches today's students how to effectively design experiments, equipping them with the skills they need to become tomorrow's top researchers. Employing a refreshingly approachable and articulate style, the text explains the essential elements of experimental design in clear, practical terms, so that students can grasp and apply even the most challenging concepts, including power analysis and pseudoreplication. In addition, it emphasizes the interrelatedness of experimental design, statistics, and ethical considerations throughout. A broad range of examples--drawn from the primary literature and the authors' extensive personal experience--demonstrate the practical relevance of experimental design in real-life biological research.

The only undergraduate text devoted to this topic, Experimental Design for the Life Sciences, Third Edition, demonstrates how good experimental design relies on clear thinking and biological understanding, not on mathematical or statistical complexity.

Pedagogical Features

* Self-test questions, with answers at the end of the book, reinforce essential facts and encourage students to check their understanding as they progress

* Take-home messages throughout chapters focus students' attention on the principles that they must master

* Coverage of ethical issues, flagged in the margins, raises awareness of this important aspect of the field